This week we are to reflect on the progress we have made in this class, where we need improvement, and come up with a plan to achieve our best grade.  I have been able to complete the essays that are assigned for the week; however, I have not submitted them all in time.  I realized in looking back, that I could be quoting more from the texts that we are reading and that our essays are not so abstract that they are simply a place to put our thoughts out there but I also need to incorporate more, on how it connects with what we are reading as a class.  In the second half of this semester, I just need to work harder to take every single free moment that I have to devote to reading more, this way I can stay with the fast pace of this intensive summer class. This is the first summer semester that I have taken, and I had no expectation of how this would go. I can assure you that I am never taking a summer semester again especially not an English class, because I love reading and writing, and I have  made A’s in all of my English classes before this one, and this is my last one. I am a great student, I just need more time. It just brings tears to my eyes because I have not been able to balance my work, my school, and my kids needs in this semester.  Even write now as I type this my kids are asking me to read something with them, or play a game. As a single mom, it is only me, and it is hard to make it all happen. I am very lucky to be able to go to school right now though. I love school, I feel like I am accomplishing something, something that I am actually good at.  In light of this imbalance,  as much as I would still love to make an “A” and will give the best effort that I have to do that, I  have accepted that I might end up with a “B”.  If I get a “C” I am taking my Dean’s List certificate off of the refrigerator. I’m joking, because I still earned it. This is just a lesson that I had to learn, that summer is for my kids only, even if it does take me longer to get the degree that I want.  I miss them and they lose enough time with me during the fall and spring sessions. 

As far as our weekly Committee of Correspondence posts go, I am doing fairly well in there. I think that I have a great group, and we have great discussions that I think even Professor Brandon adds a lot to, as well.   I love it when my email pops up with a response in there. It is nice to be able to discuss with other people what they think. I always learn something in there.  I also read what Professor Brandon has to say in the Announcements because there is always such useful information that helps bring together what we are reading with where our thoughts should be going.  I always wonder after reading a long post of his, is if he just typed all of that for us just now or if it is something that he wrote before. My honest opinion is that it was typed just for us. I can tell that he is very passionate about this subject and loves it when his students get really interested in it too.  Not just getting by to get a good grade, but taking a real interest, which is evident also in our Committee of Correspondence because that is where we get to ask our questions.

After reflecting on the question of how much I am incorporating what Professor Brandon has said in the announcements and information from Wikipedia, this is an area of improvement that I could also focus on.  I don’t think I am doing this enough. I am happy with my essays and I love that they are not just reviews or critiques of what we have read, but actually taking what we have read and forming our own ideas about ourselves and things that are important to us and being able to write under the influence of such great authors. I know one thing for sure, I am not giving up, I am enjoying this class even if I am having a hard time balancing it all, and I will give it my best shot to achieve the best grade because I will not fail.